Madness
Chapter 55's

In the not-so-extensive bedroom, four people were surrounded by a bed filled with an old man. One of the man's hands appeared to be pierced by a needle that drained transfusion blood from a hanging pouch.

Although it hurt, but the man's eyes emitted a radiance that could make everyone disdain and respect him.

"What are you all doing here?"

Johan's voice sounded hoarse, but it contained a strong innuendo.

Felix slowly advanced forward. His face shows an apology.

"Sorry Master Johan, but Nathanael and Marcus would like to meet you today. Of course, Nathanael will take Miss Alina as his wife as well as your daughter."

The explanation made Johan snort and turn his head.

Seeing that, Lin was not good and quickly approached her father.

"Dad..."

Lin's hand gently held Johan's hand and squeezed it.

"We're all worried about you, dad. On hearing the news from Mr. Felix, Nate immediately asked all of us to visit you this morning."

Johan's gaze was directed at Lin's hand that was grasping his hand. The old man rubbed his son's hand and squeezed it gently. His eyes were a little misty, but the fog instantly disappeared as he looked into Lin's eyes.

"Lin, I want to talk to both of them. Can you come out for a second?"

The request slightly surprised Lin, but the woman immediately smiled understandably.

"certain. I'll wait in the living room. I can call you later."

Afterwards, Lin and Felix left the room, leaving Johan with the two men who still had not said anything.

The bedroom was momentarily quiet and a little gripping. No one talks to each other.

"Nathanael. Marcus's."

Johan finally broke that stifling silence.

"Master."

Nate advanced towards Johan's bed, accompanied by Marcus who finally took his place opposite him. The two men were on the right and left sides of the old man.

"The child does not know manners! You should have called me 'father'."

Nate's eyes blinked quickly hearing the reprimand. He did not expect Johan would ever ask him to call him that.

It's been a long time since that man called someone 'father'. Since his father died in the war, there has never been a male substitute except for Johan who has been his mentor and superior since he was a child.

However, their relationship seems limited to the boss-subordinate relationship, and the old man's request makes Nate a little awkward when it comes to changing his greeting.

"Sorry, a-a-dad."

The old man's head nodded once, and he turned his gaze to Marcus who was still staring at him in silence.

"Marcus."

"Master."

Unexpectedly, suddenly the old man coughed, making the two young men beside him startled and immediately grabbed him.

"Master! You all right?" Marcus' voice sounded a little panicked.

As soon as it came, as quickly as it was, Johan's cough stopped.

The old man looked a little hard to breathe. "Water..."

Nate immediately grabbed a glass of water beside the table and gave it to Johan. He helped the old man drink it through a straw.

The old man's free hand was slightly raised, making the two men in front of him pay more attention to him. The hand looked much older than it was two months ago and seemed to tremble.

Nate's heart trembled at the condition Johan had never imagined at all. The man grabbed the old hand and grasped it tightly.

"Dad..."

The call made Johan's head turn slowly and look at Nate. Both of the old man's eyes looked watery. He slowly turned his head back to the pillow.

Johan chuckled a little when he said that. The old man looked back ahead.

"Because my time is not long, it seems like I really have to say what I wanted to say a long time ago. To both of you."

Nate's gaze on Johan was visibly confused when he heard the old man's words.

"I'm sorry Nathanael that my actions in the past, made you have to live in agony all this time. But you know, I never regretted it. I would never regret it, if it made me see you as happy as I am today."

Johan's words made Nate's eyes heat up. He had never expected that this confession would come from the old man's mouth.

"I've always considered you my son, Nathanael. It makes me selfish. I'm not willing to watch you die and leave the world without ever getting real happiness. I'd regret a lifetime if I let you die then."

Johan's breathing began to sound heavy and short. But the old man continued his words.

"When I decided to have the offspring of a human being, how I prayed that my offspring was a female. I really hope that the all-powerful creator of the world will grant my prayers, making me able to give you the best mate, Nathanael."

Unable to hold it, one of Nate's eyes drained a hint of tears. The man was unable to speak hearing Johan's explanation.

"How happy I was when I found out that you and my daughter were already together. And how upset I am to see you haven't done anything to him, to make him yours."

It turned out that this was the reason the old man let out words of rejection at that moment.

"I will never regret having traded my own life for the happiness of my children. I've always loved you, and that includes you Marcus."

Johan's infused hand held tightly onto Marcus's.

"Never assume that you're not my son, Marcus. You are my son too. Otherwise, how could I possibly want to change you just because of your request."

The information made Nate widen his eyes. He looked at his assistant.

"Marcus?"

Johan's head turned back to Nate, the old man's lips faintly smiling.

"You don't know, Nathanael? This kid, Marcus. Since childhood, he has always adored you. Think of you as his hero. You think, why would he want to be by your side all this time? When he found out you wanted to get away from me, he asked me to change him so that he could follow you to his age."

Nate's eyes blinked at Marcus, who was staring down at Johan.

What's he been doing all this time? All his life he had intended to die, without ever knowing that there were people who loved him around him. Who wants him to live, and to be happy.

This made Nate's heart feel very guilty. How selfish he has been all this time.

"I'm..."

The old man's words were interrupted when he coughed again.

"Master, you better rest first."

There was a hoarse letter of Marcus that sounded stuck and not as usual.

But the cold man's request was only answered with a soft slit from Johan.

"My time is not much. Marilyn, Marcus. I only have one request for you."

The old man started to pant, making the two young men in front of him very worried.

"Tell me, what do you want?" Nate answered him, and his voice trembled slightly.

Johan's two hands holding Nate and Marcus' fingers tightened, indicating the old man was enduring the pain in his body.

"Please take me to Lofoten, in Norway."

Marcus's eyeballs are growing. "That's the place..."

A faint smile appeared on Johan's lips.

"I told you about it, Marcus. It was a very beautiful place. The place where I first set foot on earth. And also where I lost my life partner for good."

The two old man's eyes closed tightly. Although he still looks breathless, but his breathing pattern is starting to sound regular.

"The first time I showed up there, and the last time I wanted to die there. Please fulfill my last request."